St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-12-25

sofa & Northwestern was made lake
navigation had been altogether in favor
of the jobber, but, Immediately after
Mr.. Stickney'S cut went into effect. there
was big jump in wholesale sales, and
as soon as the other railroads followed
suit the sales jumped still higher. Thus
the st. Paul jobber has been enabled for
the entire year, particularly the latter
half of the year,tO lay his wares cheaper
and quicker at the door of his CUSTOM
ers. 1t has also enabled the country
merchant to give still better satisfaction
to his customer than ever before, for he
could afford to sell at little lower
profit on each purchase by getting his
own orders filled much quicker, and at
lower cost to him. and by thus making
more sales. Naturally this has placed
the retail trade upon better basis, and
as naturally the jobbing trade has been
stimulated.
Still jobbers have reason to complain.
With all the advantage of st. PaufS
geographical position as the supply de-
pot of the Northwest. with all its trans
portation facilities, and with the con-
stantly new territory being added to its
trade, it's jobbers believe the freight
rates outward from the city should be,
lower. There can be no Discrimination
against st. Paul except in the matter Of
freight rates. These rates will have to
be enormous to lessen the commercial
supremacy of this city as the greab
Northwestern emporium. Even with
outward rates, which comparatively are
higher than anywhere else in the coun-
try, the jobbing trade of this city
must still enjoy its supreme
advantages. Being nearer to the West,
it cuts off all possible competition; able
to ship into the city with the advan-
tageous cheapness of big bulks through
shipments from the East, the goods Of
the home jObber must be cheaper than
similar goods shipped in small quantis
ties from any other point. Neyerthe-
less, the high outward rates are opposed
to st. PaulS commercial interests, and
it is naturally the interest of the jobbcr
to get the best rates he can for the benz
eft of his retail customers. But there
is general feeling that another year
will see the home roads making moro
favorable rate. The advantages OF the
jobber of this city Will be added to In q
President Hill, of the Manitoba
road, of full line of steamers to
connect his system with lake navigation
direct. Mr.. Sticlney will shortly after
follow suit by extending the Minnesota
q Northwestern system to the lake. and
connect. The Sioux Ste. Marie canal
project is being strongly agitated. With
the cOnsummation of these great pr0i@
ects the jobber of st. Paul will enjoy
the advantages of direct water ships
ments from Buffalo for at least six
months in the year.
LEADING ITEMS OF TRADE.
The chief items in the jobbing trade
here are the great staples, such as
groceries, dry goods, hardware,
drugs, boots and shoes, implements,
wagons and like necessities, and tho
goods handled are of good quality and
assortment. The items of groceries and
dry goods each are not far short of Sl5.-
000,G00 worth of sales. Grain, -four.
feed and the commission trade has run
over S12,O00,000, while lumber, hard.
ware and general building materials, to
show the building development of tbs
Northwest, have realized more than
S15,000,000 worth of sales in the aggre-
gate. Not only has the trade increased in
The amount of sales, but during the paSs
year the job6ing trade has increased ia
the financial strength and the number
of its houses, some of them
being closely allied with home
manufacturers. Altogether forty-five
new jobbing houses have started,
capital of about $1,525, 900, and adding
to last years sales of nearly $780, 900.
The information regarding these new
firms has been obtained partly from the
Dun Mercantile agency. Among these
may be mentioned A. NJ. Pratt IL Co.,
w. W. Garrison d Co. and A. A. Price,
in wholesale paper bags and twines. d
comparatively new line in st. Paul; j.
j. McKibben & Co. and Albrecht Bros,
the former in hats, caps and furS, and
the latter in furs and fur clothing prin-
S dy b bent a Bfadls Gleen MSs,
Avery & Co. Ghe last named being
successors to Berkey, Talmadge s. Co.,
in coffees, teas. spices, etc; the
La Crosse Wallis Wagon company, the
st. Paul Shoe company, l.. K. d f. NJ.
Tenny in the wagon line; Theodore
Thorner in hides and furs; Wickcrs-
helm q Co., the Meade-Van Bokkelen
company and the Shea Fruit company
in fruits; Wemott, Howard & Co., ia
crockery and glassware John A.
the Mystic Cloak company; Meyrowitz
Bros, opticians, branch of New
York concern, F. l.. barrow s. Co., in
fine carriages, branch from Minneap-
oils, the Minnesota Transfer and
Dressed Meat company: the Minnesota
and MOI thweStern Coal company; the
Northwestern Iron company: A. G. Bee
ken and the Minnesota JeWeIry COM
pany, in the jeWelry line; the Corticilli
Spool Silk company and Bedding Bros,
in dry goods and notions; L. ii. Darling
and the Northwestern Extract COM
pany. in extracts manufacturers and
jobberS); E. Allen & Co., dry goods and
furnishings, and several others Of good,
solid standing.
HEALTHY TRADE.
The business done has been charac-
terized with much Outpush and energy.
The relations between jobber and re-
taller have been drawn closer, and while
this has been in more marked degree
than in past years, there has been no in-
termeddling in prices, and no illegiti-
mate speculation, but the business has
been direct from wholesaler to retailer,
and from the latter to his customers
upon clearly defined rules and recog-
niZed customs of business. Collections
have been good notwithstanding sup
posed stringency in the money market
during the last two months. The fol-
lowing table, showing the number Of
firms doing business and the amount Of
rates for the year and the increase over
last year, has been compiled from data
and figures gathered from such reliable